[monkeesr1]

Hi everyone,

Our vet obtained a sample of our guinea pig (Brownie) about a week ago. The vet said she had a fungal infection from ringworm. She was losing some hair around her right ear but only there. She is very active and has gained weight (she went from 335 grams to 431 grams) in the last two weeks. The vet wrote an order for some Griseofulvin (generic name) or Griseoful (brand name) it is an oral suspension. Over the last three days she hs experienced some soft poop. The vet says that may happen from the medicine. She is to take for 45 days. We have had her for about three weeks and purchased her from a pet store. This is the first time I have owned a guinea pig and want to make certain we are doing all that we can for her. Has anyone else experienced anything similar to this or can give me any info that may help. She is only about two months old and love her and want only best for her.

Thanks for all the help.
Love this site.

Rob

 

[girlrazor]

I've never owned a guinea pig, but fungal infections are common and I'm sure that she will be fine. You've done the best that you can by giving her love and the care that she needs when she needs it.

The only advice that I will give for future reference, is that next time you buy an animal, try to get it from a professional breeder. Pet shop animals often come from farms where animals are bred without care - thus resulting in many health problems from tumors to recurrent respiratory infections. Of course, I also recommend animals from animal shelters, as any medical conditions would have already been identified by on site vets (hopefully).

Anyway, best of luck and we're thinking about your little one. Keep us updated.
xoxoxo

 

[kathydip]

Please post some pics!

Sorry I don't have piggy experience either, although, I would like to think I have two piggy nephews. They are my friends piggies.
Going to the vet to get her checked was the best thing to do. I am sure that others that know piggies will let you know a lot more.

 

[monkeesr1]

Thanks,

I appreciate it. I believe the next pet will br coming from a shelter. I am trying to work on some pics. Every time I try to download them I end up with pics that are too large. I have plenty and as soon as I can get them to fit I will be posting . Thanks again.

 

[JacquesZoo]

When I worked at petsmart I came across this quite a few times. Changed bedding daily is the best thing to prevent her getting it again.

 

[monkeesr1]

Guinea pig bedding

Hi,

I know that this has been discussed before but i thought I would bring it up again. For my Guinea pig - Brownie - I have been using a bedding called "total comfort". It is like a shredded cardboard / paper product. It has no dust and no smell but it is quite expensive and if I change it frequently, I will use a lot of it. I use a Pine bedding for my hamsters (and have been using it for years) and works well for them. I wonder if it would be safe to use for my Brownie. i know that cedar is bad but what other alternatives do you believe would be acceptable. I only want the best for her but I don't want to go broke in the mean time. Brownie gives kisses to everyone for helping.

Thanks.

 

[girlrazor]

To size pics down you can even use the stretch/skew option in paint reduce the image to say 50% its normal size

 

[Jennicat]

I wouldn't reccomend using the medication you were given. Although it CAN be used on guinea pigs, it's particularly rough on their GI tract (as your vet mentioned, the soft poops). Guinea pigs dehydrated easily, and if something throws their GI tract out of whack, it's easy for them to spiral downward particularly quickly.

Guinea Lynx :: Topic - Ringworm Medication Advice Needed

That's one thread I found on it, but it's been implicated in several deaths over at Guinealynx. Program is recommended over Griseoful because it's much gentler on the system.

Guinea Lynx :: Fungus

 

[VanillaRat]

Hi,

I know that this has been discussed before but i thought I would bring it up again. For my Guinea pig - Brownie - I have been using a bedding called "total comfort". It is like a shredded cardboard / paper product. It has no dust and no smell but it is quite expensive and if I change it frequently, I will use a lot of it. I use a Pine bedding for my hamsters (and have been using it for years) and works well for them. I wonder if it would be safe to use for my Brownie. i know that cedar is bad but what other alternatives do you believe would be acceptable. I only want the best for her but I don't want to go broke in the mean time. Brownie gives kisses to everyone for helping.

Thanks.

Like cedar,pine is toxic and no good for small animals.I suggest you switch to aspen and/or Yesterdays News.

 

[girlrazor]

There are loads of beddings you can use that are cheap and safe. For instance, there are some ecofriendly cat litters such as YN and Biocatolet which are completely suitable for small animals, highly absorbent and good for the environment.

Cheap too!

 

[mulder]

and lets not forget the Carefresh bedding! speaking of pine, i know it's bad but i did have (a long time ago) a mouse that lived 3.5 years with my using pine, as well as a hamster, before i found out it's bad. all i can say is that from my experience the pine has only affected the rats, whom sneeze almost right away. but the mouse adn ham were fine. wierd eh? (oh yes, i said eh)

 

[VanillaRat]

Natalie,like you long before I knew how bad pine and cedar were,I housed mice and hammies on pine as well without problems! It seems to cause the most problems in rats.However it is still toxic to all small animals.I do agree tho it is weird,because I housed mice and hamsters on it as well once upon a time.

 

[mulder]

yeah i know, definitley wierd! i stand by carefesh tho, it's great and never smells

 

[girlrazor]

Personally, I'd just sooner not take the risk for my little ones
It's a shame, I quite like the smell of pine.

 

[VanillaRat]

Oh I don't use it no more! That was years ago,before I even knew it was bad.
I use aspen now and sometimes mix it with YN.

 

[monkeesr1]

I am going to go to the store tomorrow. I will take a look at the aspen and carefresh. Thanks for the help. When I took her to the vet she had increased her weight to 431 grams (about 100 grams increase over a two week period). She is about two months old. How big do full grown adults become??

 

[girlrazor]

Yay for aspen!

 

[Skratikans]

how bad is the pine that claims to be without aromatic oils....?

 

[girlrazor]

It's the oils in the pine itself that are dangerous I'm afraid.
Personally I wouldn't risk it, there are cheaper alternatives out there.
If you want me to refer you to some, just ask!

 

[wellahart]

Hi everyone,

Our vet obtained a sample of our guinea pig (Brownie) about a week ago. The vet said she had a fungal infection from ringworm. She was losing some hair around her right ear but only there. She is very active and has gained weight (she went from 335 grams to 431 grams) in the last two weeks. The vet wrote an order for some Griseofulvin (generic name) or Griseoful (brand name) it is an oral suspension. Over the last three days she hs experienced some soft poop. The vet says that may happen from the medicine. She is to take for 45 days. We have had her for about three weeks and purchased her from a pet store. This is the first time I have owned a guinea pig and want to make certain we are doing all that we can for her. Has anyone else experienced anything similar to this or can give me any info that may help. She is only about two months old and love her and want only best for her.

Thanks for all the help.
Love this site.

Rob

I don't have experience with Guinea pigs but my cat millie had ringworm. You can get it...just a head's up. An over the counter antifungal works for you to get rid of it. (a cream for athlete's feet - same fungus) My cat was given that grisoflavin only after the betadine bath and a topical ointment didn't work. She had it really bad though, all over her body, not just one spot. Ringworm can be a pain since it takes so long before it starts to look like it's getting better. Just be patient. Good luck with your little piggy. Can't wait to see pictures.